SB 191 

B2 C5 
Copy 1 



SB 191 
| . B2 C5 
(Copy 1 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 222 

Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 



Washington, D. C. 



May 24, 1915 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA 

RELATION OF CULTURAL METHODS 
TO PRODUCTION 



By 

E. C. CHILCOTT, Agriculturist in Charge, and J. S. COLE 

and W. W. BURR, Assistants, Office of 

Dry-Land Agriculture 



CONTENTS 



Introduction 

Importance of Barley as a Grain Crop 
Area Included in These Investigations 

Climatic Conditions 

General Plan of the Investigations . . 



Page 
Comparison of Cultural Methods on the 

Basis of Cast 9 

Results at the Several Stations .... 12 
General Discussion of Results .... 28 
Conclusions 31 



^ 



|0 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1915 



H' i ograpi 




BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 222 



Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief 
May 24, 1915. 




BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA: RELATION OF 
CULTURAL METHODS TO PRODUCTION. 

By E. C.'Chilcott 1 , Agriculturist in Charge, and J. S. Cole and W. W. Burr, Assist- 
ants, Office of Dry -Land Agriculture. 1 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 1 

Importance of barley as a grain crop 3 

Area included in these investigations 3 

Climatic conditions 4 

General plan of the investigations 5 



Comparison of cultural methods on the basis 

of cost 9 

Results at the several stations 12 

General discussion of results 28 

Conclusions 31 



INTRODUCTION. 

In this bulletin arc given the data obtained from different methods 
of seed-bed preparation for barley and a study of the cost of produc- 
tion under each of the various methods. Investigations have been 

i All of the members of the scientific staff of the Office of Dry-Land Agriculture have contributed 
more or less to this paper by having charge of field investigations and by assisting in the preparation of 
data for records or for publication. The scientific staff as at present constituted consists of the following 
members, named in the order of length of service: W. W.Burr, Denver, Colo.; E. F.Chilcott, Woodward, 
Okla.; O. J. Grace, Akron, Colo.; J. S. Cole, Denver, Colo.; J. M. Stephens, Moccasin, Mont.; A. L. Hall- 
sted, Hays, Kaus.; O. R. Mathews, Belle Fourche, S. Dak.; J. C. Thysel), Dickinson, N. Dak.; M. Pfaender, 
Mandan, N. Dak.; H. C. McKinstry, Hettinger, N. Dak.; W. M. Osborn, North Platte, Nebr.; W. D. 
Griggs, Dalhart, Tex.; C. A. Burmeister, Amarillo, Tex.; J. E. Mundell, Big Spring, Tex.; F. L. Kelso, 
Ardmore, S. Dak.; W. A. Peterson , Mandan, N. Dak.; J. T. Sarvis, Ardmore, S. Dak.; G. W. Morgan, 
Huntley, Mont.; J. II. Jacobson, Mitchell, Nebr.; H. G. Smith, Tucumcari, N. Mex.; L. N.Jensen, Wood- 
ward, Okla.; J. G. Lill, Garden City, Kans.; R. S.Towle, Edgeley, N. Dak.; A. J. Ogaard, Williston, N. 
Dak.; C. B. Brown, Dalhart, Tex.; L. D. Willey, Archer, Wyo.; J. B. Kuska, Colby, Kans.; and A. E. 
Seamans, Akron, Colo. 

The following-named men have held positions on the scientific staff of the Office of Dry-Laud Agriculture 
during the past nine years, but have resigned or have been transferred to other offices of the Department of 
Agriculture: Sylvester Balz, F. L. Kennard, J. E. Payne, L. E. Hazen, C. A. Jensen, H. R. Reed, W. O. 
Whitcomb, C. II. Plath, F. Knorr, and R. W. Edwards. 

The data here reported from the stations in Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Montana have been 
obtained in cooperation with the agricultural experiment stations of their respective States. In South 
Dakota, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico the stations are operated by the United States 
Department of Agriculture. 

Field, office, and laboratory facilities, teams, and implements have been provided by the Office of Western 
Irrigation Agriculture, at Huntley, Mont., Belle Fourche, S. Dak., and Mitchell, Nebr., and by the Office 
ofCereal Investigations at Amarillo, Tex., and Archer, Wyo. The Biophysical Laboratory has cooperated 
in obtaining the meteorological data reported. 

Note. — This bulletin is intended for all who are interested in the agricultural possibilities of the Great 
Plains area. 

87710°— Bull. 222—15 1 



0<j4o^ 



2 BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

conducted at fourteen different stations in the Great Plains area. 
Barley has been grown to a minor extent in the rotations at all sta- 
tions, although it has not been considered as important a crop as 
either wheat or oats. 

At some of the stations the work has been continuous for eight 
years; at other stations it has been but recently started. The 
results of the first year's work at any station are not used, as the land 
is uniform in preparation for all plats. From the stations having the 
longer records the results are the most valuable, since they include 
a greater range of climatic conditions. Where a short record is given 
it can show only the effect of the different tillage methods under the 
particular combinations of climatic factors obtaining during that 
time. The crop on any series of plats having the same methods of 
tillage may behave quite differently under the combinations of 
climatic factors that may occur in succeeding years. The relative 
position assumed by the various methods in the first year's results 
may or may not jbe changed from that arrangement by subsequent 
work. It is certain, however, that the range of difference between 
the methods will vary with changing climatic factors. Wide differ- 
ences in yields between methods that may be shown in a short record 
will tend to be narrowed as the length of the record is increased. 

The method of work adopted was that of raising the standard crops 
of each station both in rotations and by different methods of prepara- 
tion under systems of continuous cropping. In no case have rotations 
requiring more than six years been used. Those of even this length 
have been tried only when sod of tame-grass crops is included. 
More of the work has been done with 3-year and 4-year rotations. 

In this bulletin are shown only the crop immediately preceding 
and the tillage involved in preparing the seed bed for barley. In the 
present stage of development of the work the effect of the imme- 
diately preceding crop and of the method of handling its stubble 
in preparing the seed bed greatly overshadows the effects of the ro- 
tations considered as units. Some of the rotations are calculated to 
conserve or to accumulate fertility and organic matter in the soil, 
while others may perhaps deplete it, but on the naturally fertile 
soils of the Plains such results arc not strongly shown in the first 
years of treatment. The controllable factors that exert the greatest 
influence on production are the water supply, the physical condition 
of the seed bed, and a recognized, if not understood, effect of the 
immediately preceding crop. The crop of a single year brings the 
land back to so near uniformity in these factors that their probable 
residual effect is not great enough with the work in hand to introduce 
serious error into the study here made. 

This bulletin, which deals with only one crop, does not afford any 
criterion by which to judge the agricultural possibilities of any sec- 



o 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 3 

tion of the region for other crops. The fact that the combination 
of soil and climatic conditions in certain sections is not favorable 
to the production of barley does not signify that such conditions will 
prove unfavorable to other crops. 

IMPORTANCE OF BARLEY AS A GRAIN CROP. 

In some sections of the region barley has not been considered 
strictly as a market crop, but rather as a feed crop. In certain 
parts of the Northwest it has been grown quite extensively as a 
market crop. The price is usually determined by the quality of the 
barley from a brewing standpoint, the demand being for a product 
that is uniform, well matured, and of good color. Certain sections 
of the dry-land regions afford opportunity to grow barley of good 
quality, especially in those years when conditions are favorable for 
the production of a good, plump berry. The dry weather, with the 
absence of dews, gives good conditions under which to harvest the 
crop without injury to quality or color. In the main, however, 
barley has been grown in the Great Plains as feed rather than as a 
market crop. 

Barley has the advantage of requiring on the average a shorter 
growing season than either oats or wheat, and is, therefore, exposed 
for a shorter length of time to the unfavorable climatic conditions 
likely to occur. When seeded at approximately the same time as 
oats, it will ripen with or before the earliest oats. The variety of 
barley which is grown determines somewhat the length of the growing 
season, but the foregoing applies to the average barleys. Earliness 
of maturity may be of considerable importance in enabling a crop to 
escape drought. 

AREA INCLUDED IN THESE INVESTIGATIONS. 

The area included in these investigations covers a part of 10 States, 
viz, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, 
Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. It extends 
from the ninety-eighth meridian of longitude to the foothills of the 
Rocky Mountains and from the Canadian border to the thirty-second 
parallel. 

The altitude varies from approximately 1,400 feet in the northeast- 
ern part of the area to 6,000 feet at Cheyenne, Wyo. These repre- 
sent the highest and the lowest altitudes. The southern portion of 
the territory has a higher average altitude and higher average rainfall 
and a correspondingly higher rate of evaporation than the northern 
portion. The average annual precipitation at the various stations 
varies from about 15 to 21 inches. 

Figure 1 shows the location of the various field stations within 
the area which, as outlined, is bounded on the west by the 5,000-foot 
contour and does not include Archer, Wyo. 



BULLETIN 222, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. 

The climate of the Great Plains has been classified as semiarid. 
It may be better to say that it is changeable, varying from season 
to season from almost humid to almost arid, with a relatively low 
mean annual precipitation. Years of relatively high precipitation 

may be followed by 
years of relatively 
low precipitation. 
Other climatic factors 
usually correspond to 
the rainfall. A year 
of relatively high rain- 
fall will have a lower 
rate of evaporation 
and higher relative 
humidity than will be 
found in the unfavor- 
able years. 

Another climatic 
factor of much im- 
portance in crop pro- 
duction on the Plains 
is the distribution of 
the rainfall, which 
within certain limits 
is more important 
than the total 
amount. Arclativcly 
low rainfall properly 
distributed may pro- 
duce a crop where a 
much higher rainfall 
coming with unfavor- 
able distribution may 
result in a crop fail- 
ure, each starting with 
the same amount of 
available water in the 
sod. A vast difference in crop yields usually results from a soil that 
starts out in the spring with a small amount of stored moisture and 
one that is well supplied with moisture. 

Space in this bulletin will not allow a full description or record of 
the climatic conditions at the various stations during the time cov- 
ered by these investigations. These records are published by the 
United States Weather Bureau. 




Fig. 1.— Sketch map of the Great Plains area, which includes parts 
of ten States and consists of about 400,000 square miles of territory, 
lis western boundary is indicated by the 5,000-foot contour. The 
location of each field station within the area is shown by a dot 
within a circle (0). 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 5 

Seasonal variation in climatic factors is probably more important 
than difference in methods of tillage. This is shown by the fact that 
in some years climatic conditions at some stations are such that all 
methods result in failures. In other years all methods may give 
fair returns. At some stations the greatest actual increases in yield 
as a result of tillage methods is usually obtained under the most 
favorable climatic conditions. In Table I are given the maximum, 
minimum, and average annual and seasonal precipitation and sea- 
sonal evaporation. By seasonal is meant the time between the aver- 
age seeding and the average harvesting dates. No attempt is made 
to show other climatic factors, though all are important. 

Table I. — Annual and seasonal precipitation and seasonal evaporation at fourteen sta- 
tions in the Great Plains area. 1 





Alti- 
tude 
(feet). 2 


Precipitation (inches). 8 


Seasonal evap 
(inches). 


oration 


Station. 


Annual. 


Seasonal. 


1 




Mini- 
mum. 


Maxi- 
mum. 


Aver- 
age. 


Mini- 
mum. 


Maxi- 
mum. 


Aver- 
age. 


Mini- 
mum. 


Maxi- 
mum. 


Aver- 
age. 




4.228 
3.000 
1 . 875 
2,543 
1,468 

">, 950 
3,950 
3,000 
4.600 
2,050 
2,900 
4,000 
3,676 


14.96 
11.92 
10.28 
11.93 
11.94 
12.72 
6.64 
13.77 
11.18 
14.51 
15.59 
11.82 
13.09 
10.69 


23.78 
11.92 
18.99 
21.22 
21.95 
15. 68 
17.73 
18.51 
23.01 
22.46 
27.80 
23.58 
16. 35 
27.80 


18.06 
11.92 
14.84 
16.69 
16. 71 
14.20 
13.11 
16.14 
18.05 
18.28 
21.30 
18.54 
15.11 
18.28 


6.50 
5.00 
5.62 
5.31 
5.08 
8.82 
1.92 
5.50 
4.38 
5.32 
3.87 
5.01 
4.54 
5.03 


10.90 

7.35 
12.00 
16.27 
15.73 
12.89 
12.75 

8.26 
11.25 

9.52 
12.87 

8.16 
14.86 
11.49 


8.62 
6.18 
8.31 

10.06 
9.60 

10. 69 
6.82 
7.11 
7.77 
7.82 
9.55 
6.85 
8.17 
7.05 


19.117 
19.820 
21.104 
18. 379 
17.604 
20.111 
23. 627 
24. 698 
25. 954 
25.917 
29. 390 
33.315 
33.381 
32. 305 


26.273 
20. 594 
28.269 
27. 366 
25. 362 
24.248 
33. 906 
26. 647 
36. -;,;, 
32. 691 
41.317 
38.926 
41.002 
40. 704 


21.330 




20. 207 


Williston 


24. 705 




22. 377 




20. 657 


ScottsbltuT 


22. 430 
27. 220 
25. 718 


North Platte 


30. 253 




28 781 




32.628 




35. 332 


Dalhart 


38.596 




36.709 







1 The years covered are the same as for the data shown in the other tables for each station. 

2 The altitude given is for the field where the work was done and is based in most cases on that of the 
nearest town. 

3 The record of annual precipitation for 191 4 is not included. The records of seasonal precipitation and 
evaporation for 1914 are included for all stations, the evaporation being figured from Apr. 1 to July 31. 
Theseasonal rainfall is the amount from Apr. 1 to July 31 for stations north of and including that at Belle 
Fourche. For stations south of Belle Fourche it is the amount between Mar. 1 and June 30. Evaporation 
measurements are made from a free water surface, in a tank sunk into the soil to almost its full depth. 
The water surface is kept about level with the surface of the ground. 

GENERAL PLAN OF THE INVESTIGATIONS. 

In the work at the various stations barley has been grown under 
a number of different tillage methods, but has not occupied as many 
plats as the other crops. 

The same variety of barley has been grown on all the plats seeded 
to that crop at the same station during the same year. The aim has 
been to grow a variety adapted to the local conditions at the station 
where it has been grown. Different varieties have been grown at dif- 
ferent stations. At some stations a 6-rowed barley has been used, 
some stations have used a 2-rowed barley, and some have used a hull- 
less variety. It is possible that in some cases the variety grown may 



6 BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

not have been the very best obtainable for that section, but by using 
the same variety in all of the methods under study uniformity in this 
factor has been obtained. 

Uniformity in rate, time, and manner of seeding has been observed 
on all plats at the same station. There is naturally some variation 
between the different stations. Differences in climatic conditions 
have been recognized in differences in the rate of seeding, but at the 
same stations it has been uniform. The usual rate of seeding has 
been 6 pecks of hulled barley and 3 pecks of hull-less. Both the 6-rowed 
and the 2-rowed barleys are hulled varieties. 

There is considerable variation in the time of seeding for the differ- 
ent field stations throughout the area, it being about a month earlier 
in the southern than in the northern portion. At some of the sta- 
tions the time of seeding is about the same as that of wheat and 
oats. At others it is a little later. All seeding has been done with 
a drill. Some stations, on account of the type of soil, have used the 
press drill in order to firm the sod around the seed. At other stations 
a drill without a press attachment has been used. 

For a comparative study of the effect of environment and for 
securing data on production, certain parts of the work are made 
uniform at all stations. This results in the attempted growth of bar- 
ley and other crops in sections to which they are not adapted and in 
then - growth at certain stations by methods not adapted to the con- 
ditions obtaining there. 

Considering the fact that no two stations can have exactly the 
same combination of soil and climatic factors and that the combi- 
nation resulting from any two seasons is not the same, it is evident 
that the consequent effects of the different tillage methods will not be 
the same. Therefore, the results obtained from different methods 
at each station are given separately. 

In this bulletin a table divided into two parts is presented for each 
station. The first part shows the yields that have been obtained 
each year by each of the different methods under which barley has 
been grown, considering only the treatment during the one year imme- 
mediately preceding the crop. Where more than one plat has been 
grown under the same treatment for the previous year, only the aver- 
age yield of the whole number of plats so grown is given. Column 2 
shows the number of plats so averaged. In the presentation of 
yields, the column headed "Treatment and previous crop" indicates 
the method of preparation, whether fall plowed, spring plowed, listed, 
subsoiled, disked, green manured, or summer tilled. Some of these 
are again subdivided, to show the previous crop. In the last column, 
where the average appears under the heading "Average," the calcu- 
lation is from the left. For a rough comparison of seasons, the bot- 



BARLEY 1ST THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. i 

torn line of the first half of the table gives the averages of all plats 
for each year, the average of the yearly average yields appearing in 
the last column to the right. 

In the second part of the table for each station the yields are brought 
together to show the average yields by years for each method and the 
average yield for the entire period for each method. The computa- 
tions of cost and profit are founded on the basic data shown in Tables 
II, III, and IV. The value of the average yields by each method is 
calculated. The last line of the table gives the average profit or loss 
resulting from the production of barley by the method stated at the 
head of the column. Loss is indicated by the minus sign. This 
study deals with only the one crop and does not take into considera- 
tion the relative profitableness of other crops or of all crops, considered 
as a whole, hi the farming system. 

Throughout the tables, where barley follows barley under any 
treatment, it is in a system of continuous cropping to barley by the 
method indicated. 

The methods of operation have been simdar at all stations. Fall 
plowing is done as early as practicable after harvest. It is done to a 
good depth, the standard being set at 8 inches. Ground may be either 
worked down or left rough over winter. Where barley follows barley 
after spring plowing, the stubble is undisturbed until spring, when it 
is plowed shallow, usually to a depth of 4 inches, and given a mini- 
mum of cultivation, which usually consists of one or two harrowings. 
In those cases where an additional plat appears under the heading 
"Spring plowed," it is plowed deep instead of shallow. 

Under the subhead "Listed" there is shown at some stations the 
yield from one plat continuously cropped to barley. Instead of plow- 
ing this plat, it is furrowed out with a lister at the time of fall plowing. 
It is cultivated down level by seeding time. 

Under the subhead "Subsoded" there is shown at the stations 
where it has been tried the results of a plat continuously cropped to 
barley. At the time of plowing, a subsod plow is run in the bottom 
of the fuiTOw, usually loosening the sod to a total depth of about 14 
inches. The variation from this depth is hardly more than 2 inches 
either way. In general, subsoiling has been done for two years in 
succession and omitted for two years. 

Under the subhead "Disked" are given the yields obtained on 
corn stubble prepared by disking. The corn is harvested in the fall 
with a corn binder and no tillage given the plat until spring. Then 
it is disked to put it in condition for seeding. 

Under the subhead "Green manured" are given the yields of 
barley following the plowing under of rye or peas, as specified. This 
treatment is in a 4-year rotation in which one of the other crops 
consists of corn and one of small grain. 



8 



BULLETIN 222, II. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



At each station at least one plat of barley is grown on summer- 
tilled land. The method of summer tillage practiced has been of the 
intensive type. The ground is fall plowed, and clean cultivation is 
continued through the next year and until the barley is seeded in the 
second spring. In some cases it is necessary to replow during the 
summer, when the land is fallow. At other stations summer-tilled 

plats are plowed but 



once. Experiments not 
here reported are under 
way to ascertain the best 
method of fallowing. 
Indications are that 
equally good results can 
be obtained with a less 
intensive method than 
has been practiced. 

The yields given in 
these tables begin with 
the second year of crop 
production at each sta- 
tion. All crops are pro- 
duced the first year on 
land under uniform treat- 
ment. In some cases 
an entire crop has been 
lost by hail. These 
years are not considered 
in computing averages, 
as the crops under all 
methods alike were de- 
stroyed. 

Figure 2 shows dia a- 
gram of the dry-land 
rotation field at the 



Corn.SP. 
p 


m<af,Sp\ 


Oats, SP 


$adty,£./S\ 

p 


'W.Hreaf. - 

P LFP 


Corn.FP 
B 


mtatpp] 

p 1 


Oafs, PP 


gar It/, P. P. \ 
8 


W.IIMof. 
& FP f 


„ Corn, Pa/ 


Uncafj.'sA 
c 1 


Oats, Pal 


Darle/Fal. 1 


W.Wheah 
r 


fellOW. 

D 


p~J//ow 1 
o 


Fa/ow. 
/> 


Fallow. 


Fallow. 
D Fa/. 


Com, S.S. 


iv/>ea/,ss\ 

£ 1 


Oafs, SS 

£ 


Barley, S.S.\ 


mv.icaf, 

£ SS. 


Corn , L, 


W/ieat, l. 1 


Oafs, A. 

P 


Barley, I. 1 


IVlV/jcaf, 

F L. 


Corn, L. 

n 


meat, PP 1 
a 


Corn, PP 

1 


Corn, FP 1 
P 1 


Com, PP. 
P 


Kafir, PP. 
p 


/YaP,n /5» I 
P 1 


Oats. 0. 
■a 


Parley, D 1 

6 


Wtieaf,0. 


Oats, D. 


Oafs, O. 1 


meat, PP 
c 


Oafs, PP 1 

c 


Oats, PP 

c 


Pa as, P.P. 
S3 


Pye,PP 1 

22 ' 


Cor/,, SP 
P 


Corn,S.P\ 
P 


Corn, SP. 
p 


WWheat 


WH'neaf, I 
/> 6 M 1 


■OafSyS.P 


Oafs, Sp\ 


Wheat, SP. 
2 


IHUo. PP 

n * 


M/o, PP 1 


Wieaf.SP 

c 


Barley. S P.] 


Oats, SP 
c 


Oars, D. 
9J- 


Oafs, O. 1 

24 


fallont 
p 


Fallow. 1 


Corn, PP. 


Peas, PP 


K/e, PP | 


r, ttaf, fa 

j- 


Oafs, Pat 1 
A 


Wheat, PP 

3 


tV.WAear 


WMtat. 

£> CM. 


Oafs, PP. 
c 


meat, PP 
c 


Oats, PP. 
c 



Corn, FTP 1 
ft 1 


CornFP 1 

P 


Cor/z.pP 
p 


Corn.PP 1 


Hf//o,Pal. 

c 


W.IVMaf.a 1 


r. » feat, \ 


Oats, i>. 


Oafs, a 1 




"Peas, PP. 1 


Pye.PP 


Pye.FP 


" Pcas.PP 1 


/CaP/n, Pal 


Oats, CM. 1 

D 


Oafs, GM 1 


nreatav 

D 


meaf,6M\ 
D 


Fallow. 


Corn,FP 1 


Corn, PP. 1 
p 


Corn.FP 
p 


/If,, a, Jf\ 


r\af,nS.P 
P 


Oats, D. 1 


Oafs, 0. 1 


Oats, .0. 


M.lo, P.P. 1 
S 1 


B 


Peas, PP 


~''Ryc,PP\ 


fa .:,-.. 


M/Io, I. 1 


Kafir I. 

F 


W.Hl/ieat 

O CM 


wyincaf, 

/> OM.' 


WW/teaf. 
/> Fa/. 


Ml to, /.. 1 
6 


KaFr, /.. 
a 



Fig. 2.— Diagram of the dry-land rotation field at the Amarilio 
Field Station. The lettering shows the cropping practiced in 
1914. The explanation of the abbreviations used after the name 
ofacropisasfollows:D.= Disked, .FaZ.= suinmertilled, F.P.= 
fall plowed, G. M.= green manured, i.=listed, Af.=manured, 
S. P.=spring plowed, S. S.=subsoiled. 



Amarilio Field Station. 
This station, being a representative one, will serve to illustrate the 
general scheme and plan of work. The plats here, as in all the 
work, are one-tenth acre in size. Their dimensions are 2 by 8 rods. 
Along their larger dimension the plats are separated by bare alleys 4 
feet in width. Along the ends of the plats they are separated by 
roads 20 feet wide. At this station five crops are represented in a 
series of continuously cropped plats lettered from A to F or G. In 
this group plats C and D are alternately cropped and summer tilled, 
so that each year a crop is grown on land that was summer tilled the 
previous year and a plat is summer tilled for cropping the next year. 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 9 

The remainder of the field is in rotations in which each plat is 
known by a rotation number and letter. On the field diagram the 
separation of the rotations is indicated by heavy lines. 

The movement of the crops in the rotation is in the direction from 
Z to A and from A back to the letter that marks the other end of the 
rotation. 

In figure 2 the diagram is filled out to show the cropping in 1914. 
The letters following the crop indicate the treatment given the ground 
in preparation for it, S. P. standing for spring plowed", F. P. for fall 
plowed, Fal. for summer tilled, G. M. for green manured, S. S. for 
subsoiled, L. for listed, and D. for disked. To illustrate: In 1914 
plat A of the 4-year rotation No. 91 was in corn on fall-plowed 
groimd, plat B was in oats on disked corn ground, and plat C was in 
peas on fall-plowed land. This woidd be plowed under for green 
manure. Plat D was in winter wheat where peas had been turned 
under the year before. In 1915, A will be in oats, B in peas, C in 
winter wheat, and D in corn. 

COMPARISON OF CULTURAL METHODS ON THE BASIS OF COST. 

The methods under study vary a great deal in the labor involved 
and in the consequent cost of preparation. Table IV has therefore 
been compiled in order to show the average cost by the methods under 
study as determined from the data of eight of the stations having the 
most trustworthy records. An average of the records for 5+ years 
at each station has been used in compiling this table. This is equiva- 
lent to a record of 44 years at one station. An accurate record has 
been kept of all the farm operations performed under the various 
methods under trial. These have been averaged for the eight stations. 
The amount of work required for some methods of treatment varies 
with the season and with the soil, and the expense of some operations 
varies with the sod. The amount of labor performed under each of 
the methods was neither more nor less than that which the man in 
charge believed to be necessary to bring about the results sought. 

In computing the costs of the various operations a fixed wage of 
$2 a day for a man and $1 a day for a horse was adopted. This 
may be above or below the actual labor cost in any particular locality, 
but it is believed to be a fair average and one that will afford a prof- 
itable market to the farmer for his labor. The time required for 
men and teams to cover a given acreage in each of the several farm 
operations obviously varies with soils and other conditions. The 
average shown in Table II has been determined from the actual ex- 
perience of a large number of men connected with these investigations, 
which experience has extended over a wide range of conditions and 
many years of time. 

87710°— Bull. 222—1.5 2 



10 



BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The factors included in the cost of production are calculated on an 
acre basis for each of the separate operations performed, beginning 
with the preparation of the land and ending with the harvesting and 
shocking of the grain. To these items are added the cost of seed at 
75 cents per acre, interest and taxes on the land investment calculated 
at 8 per cent on a valuation of $20 per acre, and the deterioration and 
repair of the binder at 15 cents per acre. No allowance is made for 
the deterioration of other farm equipment, as it is believed that the 
wages allowed for men and teams are sufficient to cover this item 
for the remainder of the equipment. The above-mentioned items are 
fixed charges per acre; that is, they do not vary greatly with the 
yield per acre except for the item of twine, but this variation is not 
sufficient to materially affect the relative total cost of production 
under the several methods. 

Table II shows the cost per acre based upon what is considered an 
average day's work for each of the farm operations involved at the 
above-mentioned wage. As before stated, the type of soil and 
seasonal conditions will determine to a certain extent the labor re- 
quired and the consequent cost per acre. The cost of production as 
computed in Tables II and IV is not offered as being absolute for any 
locality, either in the amount of labor required or its cost, but is given 
as a working basis for the comparison of the results by different 
methods of preparation. 

Table II. — Average cost per acre 1 of the farm, operations involved in growing barley 

in the Great Plains area. 

[The wage scale assumed is S2 per day for each man and §1 per day for each horse.] 



Operation. 



Force employed. 



Men. 



Horses. 



Day's 
work. 



Item 
cost. 



Cost per 
acre. 



Plowing 

Disking 

Harrowing 

Subsoil ing 

Drilling 

Cultivating 

Listing 

Harvesting: 

Cutting and binding 

Shocking 

Twine 

Binder wear and repair. 



Acres. 
3J 
8 
35 
31 
15 
16 
10 



$0.40 
.13 
.25 
.15 



$1.71 
.75 
.17 
1.43 
.40 
.38 
.60 



.93 



i The cost of thrashing is not included in the cost per acre, but it is estimated at 6 cents per bushel and 
deducted from the price of 47 cents in the granary, thus giving a value of 41 cents per bushel in the shock. 

The average farm price of barley used in these computations is 
based on the data given in Table III, furnished by the Bureau of 
Crop Estimates. The four States of North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Nebraska, and Kansas were selected because their extensive grain 
production has given them established market prices which are not 
greatly influenced by local conditions. 



BAELEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



11 



Table III. — Average price of barley at the farm granary for ten years in four States of the 

Great Plains area. 

[The quotations are given in cents per bushel. Those for the year 1914 are for the date of Nov. 1 ; in other 

years Dec. 1 is taken as the date.J 



Year. 


North 
Da- 
kota. 


South 
Da- 
kota. 


Ne- 
braska. 


Kan- 
sas. 


Aver- 
age. 


Year. 


North 
Da- 
kota. 


South 
Da- 
kota. 


Ne- 
braska. 


Kan- 
sas. 


Aver- 
age. 


1905 


30 
33 
58 
46 
43 
55 


29 
32 
61 
47 
45 
57 


31 
31 
50 
46 
43 
45 


32 
33 
54 
54 
53 
45 


30J 
32} 

55J 
48} 
46 
50i 


1911 


85 
35 
40 
42 


88 
42 
46 
49 


60 
42 
49 

42 


60 
40 
55 
44 


73} 
39j 
47} 
44} 


1906 


1912 


1907... 


1913 


190S... 


1914 




Average. 


1910 


47 


50 


44 


47 


47 







Table III shows that the average farm price of barley on December 
1 for the past 10 years has been 47 cents per bushel. It costs about 
6 cents per bushel to take the grain from the shock, thrash it, and put 
it in the granary on the farm. This cost per bushel does not vary 
greatly with the yield, and is therefore a fixed price per bushel instead of 
a fixed price per acre, as is the case with the other costs of production. 

The relative profits of producing barley under the different methods 
can therefore be best determined by finding the difference between 
the fixed cost per acre and the value per acre of the grain at the point 
where the fixed cost per acre ends, which, as before stated, is when 
the grain is in the shock. Knowing that the average farm value of 
barley in the granary is 47 cents per bushel, and that it costs 6 cents 
per bushel to take it from the shock, thrash it, and put it in the granary 
it is obvious that it would be worth 41 cents per bushel in the shock. 
This valuation of 41 cents per bushel has therefore been used as a 
basis for calculating the relative crop values, costs, and profits per 
acre by the various methods under trial. 

Table IV. — Cost per acre of producing barley in the shock in the Great Plains area, slum ing 
averages of data from eight stations. 





Number of operations. 


Cost of 
prepa- 
ra- 
tion. 


Cost per acre. 


Total cost of 
production. 


Method of 
preparation. 


Plow- 
ing. 


Har- 
row- 
ing. 


Disk- 
ing. 


Sub- 
soil- 
ing. 


List- 
ing. 


Drill- 
ing. 


Seed. 


Drill- 
ing. 


Har- 
vest- 
ing. 


Inter- 
est 
and 

taxes. 


In 
dollars. 


In 
grain 
at 41 
cents 
per 
bushel. 






1.3 
1.6 
1.3 
2.3 
1.7 
9.2 

6.5 
5.8 


1 

1.2 
.5 
.9 
.9 

2.6 

2.4 
2.7 








$0.9" 
1.77 
2.31 
2.78 
3.39 
6.12 

7.73 
10.73 


•'(I.::, 
.75 
. 75 
.75 
.75 
.75 

.75 
.75 


$0.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 

.40 
.40 


$0. 93 
.93 
.93 
.93 
.93 
.93 

.93 
.93 


$1.60 
1.60 
1.60 
1.60 
1.60 
3.20 

3.20 
3.20 


4.65 
5.45 
5.99 
6.46 
7.07 
11.40 


11.3 








1 




13.3 




1 
1 
1 
1.5 

2 

2 


14.6 










15.8 




0.5 






17.2 








27.8 








1 




Green manured: 


13.01 
lfi.Ol 

14.51 


31.7 


With peas 2 ... 






39.0 








Average cost of 
green manur- 


35.4 





























1 The cost of rye per acre for seed is estimated at $1. 2 The cost of peas per acre for seed is estimated at $4. 



12 BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGKICULTURE. 

In. conformity with the foregoing explanation, Table IV gives in 
detail the cost of producing barley in the shock, expressed in dollars 
and cents and in bushels per acre at 41 cents per bushel in the shock. 

RESULTS AT THE SEVERAL STATIONS. 

No attempt will be made in this bulletin to discuss the various 
types of soils found at the several stations. 1 It will be noted in the 
tables that follow that the soils at some of the stations have given but 
little response to differences in tillage methods under any climatic 
conditions thus far obtaining. The soils at some other stations do 
respond to tillage. Differences in yields are obtained from different 
methods of tillage. The amount of variation in yields changes from 
year to year with the changing combination of climatic conditions. 

JUDITH BASIN FIELD STATION, MONT. 

The results of five years are presented from the field station at 
Moccasin, Mont., in the Judith Basin. The crop in the sixth year was 
destroyed by hail before maturity and is not used in calculating the 
averages. Four of the years have been productive of heavy yields, 
but in the other year the yields were light. 

Barley, like the other spring-sown grain crops at this station, does 
not exhibit marked differences in yield as a residt of different prepara- 
tions for the crop. In 1913 both fall and spring plowed barley land 
show a marked drop in yields. In 1914 the same thing is noted on the 
spring-plowed barley plat. This was due to injury from gophers 
rather than to the difference in seed-bed preparation. This damage 
with the consequent shortage of yield, unduly augments the average 
differences. 

The uniformity of results obtained shows that the method of seed- 
bed preparation is not an important factor in the production of spring- 
sown crops at this place. The farmer should concern himself with the 
problem of getting the work done at the most convenient time and in 
the most economical manner. 

The lack of wide variation in yield is explained by the shallowness 
of the soil on the station farm. The water that falls either in rain or 
snow between the tune of harvest of one crop and the commencement 
of rapid growth of the next, during the years under study, was suffi- 
cient to supply the proportion of water that the sod can retain within 
reach of the crop. Water accumulated in the soil by the special 
methods of cultivation in excess of this proportion was lost by pene- 
trating beyond recovery by the plant, and no increase in yield was 
realized from it. 

1 For a brief discussion of the different soil types, see U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Bui. 214, entitled 
" Spring wheat in the Great Plains area: Relation of cultural methods to production." 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



13 



Table V. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Judith 
Basin F« lil Station, 1909 to 1914, inclusive. 





Number 

of plats 

averaged. 


Yield per aere (bushels). 


Treatment and previous crop. 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Aver- 
age. 




1 


43.3 


12.5 


24.1 


(') 


21.9 


18.0 


24.0 






Spring plowed: 


1 
1 


45.2 
39.1 


10.0 
11.6 


23.9 




21.9 
31.7 


11.6 
21.2 


22.5 




25.9 








2 


42.2 


10.8 


23.9 


(■) 


26.8 


16.4 


24.0 








1 
1 
1 
1 


47.9 
48.3 
12. 7 

49.4 


12.5 
15.0 
16.6 
15.8 


30.4 
32.6 
29.7 
27.5 




32.5 
32.9 
34.6 
32.7 


21.8 
23. 5 
21.6 
25.8 


29.0 




30.5 




29.0 




30.2 










45.1 


13.4 


28.0 


(') 


29.7 


20.5 


27.3 









StTMMARY OF YIELDS AND DIGEST OF COST. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previouscrop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average 
per acre). 


Fall 
plowed 
(lplat). 


Spring 
plowed 
(2 plats). 


Disked 
(1 plat). 


Listed 
(1 plat). 


Sub- 
soiled 
(lplat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(5 plats). 


Corn 
(1 plat). 


Yields of grain: 

1910 do.... 

1911 do.... 

1912 do.... 

1913 do.... 

1914 do.... 


43.3 
12.5 

24.1 

(') 

21.9 

18.0 


42.2 

10.8 

23.9 

(') 

26.8 

16.4 


42.7 

16.6 

29.7 

(') 

34.6 

21.6 


47.9 

12.5 

30.4 

( l ) 

32.5 

21.8 


48.3 
15.0 
32.6 

(') 

32.9 

23.5 


49.4 

15.8 

27.5 

(') 

32.7 

25.8 


44.8 

12.3 

27.8 

(') 

28.2 

19.2 


42.7 
16.6 
29.7 

(') 
34.6 
21.6 




24.0 


24.0 


29.0 


29.0 


30.5 


30.2 


26. 5 


29.0 






Crop value, cost of production, etc.: 


$9.84 
6.46 


$9.84 
5.99 


$11. 89 
4.65 


$11.89 
5.45 


$12. 51 
7.07 


$12. 38 
11.40 
















Profit 


3.38 


3.85 


7.24 


6.44 


5.44 


.98 











1 Destroyed by hail. ■ The yield from this plat is omitted, owing to an error in time of seeding. 

The cost of production and the value of the crop as here computed 
show a profit by all methods under trial. The profits range from 98 
cents by summer tillage to $7.24 on disked corn ground. 

HUNTLEY FIELD STATION. 

The records of only two years of yields under four different methods 
of treatment are available for study from Huntley, Mont. In 1913 
there was little difference between spring-plowed oat stubble and 
disked corn ground as a preparation for barley. In 1914 disked corn 
ground was markedly the better of the two. The heaviest yields 
each year were obtained from land on which peas were plowed under 
for green manure. In 1914 there was a marked increase in the yield 
on ground on which rye was plowed under. In preparation for 1913, 



14 



BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



barley was plowed under instead of rye, with the result that there 
was a sharp decrease in yield. 

A profit was realized from all the methods under trial. The largest 
profit, $9.50 per acre, was on disked corn ground. Spring plowing 
shows a profit of $6.15 per acre, while the average profit from green 
manure was $3.45. 

Table VI. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Huntley 
Field Station, 1913 and 1914- 



Treatment and previous crop. 


Number 
of plats 
averaged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 
4 


24.5 
23.2 


34.6 

45.7 


29.6 




34.5 






Green manured: 


1 
1 


19.6 
36.3 


55.6 
63.6 


37.6 




50.0 








2 


28.0 


59.6 


43.8 










24.7 


48.1 


36.4 









Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Values, etc. 

(average per 

acre). 


Tillage treatment. 


Yields (average per acre). 


Spring 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Disked 

(4 
plats). 


Green 

ma- 

ured(2 

plats). 


Small 

grain 

(1 
plat). 


Corn 
plats). 


Spring 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Disked 

(4 
plate). 


Green 
ma- 
nured 
(2 plats) 


Yields ol grain: 

1913 bushels.. 

1914 do.... 


24.5 
34.6 


23.2 

45.7 


28.0 
59.6 


24.5 
34.6 


23.2 

45.7 


Crop value, 
cost, etc.: 
Value... 
Cost 

Profit. 


812. 14 
6.99 


$14. 15 
4.65 


SI 7. 96 
14.51 




29.6 


34.5 


43.8 


29.6 


34.5 




6.15 


9.50 


3.45 



WILLISTON FIELD STATION. 



The results of five years are available from Williston, N. Dak. In 
two of these years the yields were heavy, one year they were fair, and 
two years they were very poor. 

Between the fall and spring plowing of barley stubble, there is 
little difference to be noted, except in 1912, when fall plowing was 
much the better. Between barley and oat stubble plowed in the 
spring, the only year that showed a significant difference was 1914, 
when the advantage was with the oat stubble. The crop on sum- 
mer tillage was every year better than that following either oats 
or barley. For three years summer tillage yielded heavier than 
disked corn ground and for two years the reverse was the case. The 
high yield together with low cost combined to make disked corn 
ground show the greatest profit, $6.63 per acre. The higher cost of 
summer tillage reduced the profit from it to 41 cents per acre. Both 
fall and spring plowing show small profits. 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAIN'S AREA. 



15 



Table VII. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Williston 
Field Station, 1910 to 1914, inclusive. 



Treatment and previous crop. 


Number 

of 

plats 

averaged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 


0.8 


3.3 


46.1 


14.8 


17.4 


22.0 




1 

1 


.8 
.2 


5.8 
4.6 


31.7 
30.0 


14.4 
15.6 


21.4 
36.7 


14.8 




17.4 




2 


.5 


5.2 


30.9 


15.0 


29.1 


16.1 




1 

1 


.4 

5.2 


4.2 
12.7 


50.8 
54.4 


28.6 
21.9 


53.5 
49.7 


27.5 




28.8 










1.4 


6.1 


42.6 


19.1 


36.7 


21.2 









SlTMMARY OF YIELDS AND DIGEST OF COST. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average per acre). 


FaU 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Spring 
plowed 
(2 plats). 


Disked 
(1 plat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(3 plats). 


Corn 
(1 plat). 


Yields of grain: 

1910 bushels.. 


0.6 

3.3 

46.1 

14.x 
22.0 


0.5 

5.2 

30.9 

15.0 

29.1 


0.4 
4.2 
50.8 
28.6 
53.5 


5.2 
12.7 
54.4 
21.9 
49.7 


0.5 
4.6 
35.9 
14.9 
26.7 


0.4 


1913 do.... 


4.2 
50.8 
28.6 
53.5 




17.4 


16.1 


27.5 28.8 


16.5 


27.5 










Crop value, cost of production, etc.: 


.$7.13 
6.46 


$6.60 
5.99 


$11.28 
4.65 


$11.81 
11.40 


















.67 


.61 


6.63 


.41 











DICKINSON FIELD STATION. 



The results of six years are available from Dickinson, N. Dak. 
The crop of 1912 was destroyed by hail before maturity, and as failure 
from this cause could not be overcome by cultural methods it is 
not included in determining the average. Five of the years studied 
produced good crops of barley. In the remaining year the average 
yield was small, but the variation between the results from different 
methods of preparation was wide. 

The results attendant upon the fall and spring plowing of barley 
stubble and of growing barley on either spring-plowed oat stubble or 
barley stubble have been largely dependent upon the season. The 
seasonal differences have equalized each other until, when the re- 
sults of the five years are averaged, little choice is to be made between 
them. Summer tillage increased the crop an average of about 7 
bushels, bringing it up to 32.5 bushels per acre. Disked corn ground, 
however, brought the average yield up to 37.4 bushels per acre and 
gave a higher yield than summer tillage five years out of six. 



16 



BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Having at the same time the highest yield and the lowest cost of 
production, disked corn ground shows much the highest profit of any 
method under trial. The average profit from it was $10.68 per acre. 
Both spring and fall plowing show profits of about $4 per acre. The 
cost of summer tillage reduced the profits from it to $1.93 per acre. 



Table VIII. 



- Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Dickinson 
Field Station, 1908 to 1914, inclusive. 



Treatment and previous 


Number 

of 

plats 

averaged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 


crop. 


1908 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 


Fallplowed: Barley 


1 


24.0 


39.0 


31.1 


L. 


0) 


34.8 


20.2 


25.1 


Spring plowed: 


1 

1 


33.5 
34.4 


39.8 
49.2 


28.3 

19.8 


9.6 
2.4 


(') 
(') 


19.2 
20.2 


25.0 
13.3 


25.9 


Oats 


23.2 






Total or average... 


2 


34.0 


44.5 


24.1 


6 ii 




19.7 


19.2 


24.6 




1 

1 


45.6 
30.0 


53.8 
50.0 


28.6 
24.0 


12.3 
19.1 


(') 
(') 


44.8 
36.9 


39.1 
35.2 


37.4 




32.5 






Average of all 5 




33.5 


46.4 


26.4 


S.9 


(') 


31.2 


26.6 


28.8 









Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





per acre). 


Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average 


Fall 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Spring 
plowed 
(2 plats). 


Disked 
(1 plat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(3 plats). 


Corn 
(1 plat). 


Yields of grain: 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 


do.... 
do.... 
do.... 
do.... 
do.... 
do.... 


24.0 
39.0 
31.1 

1.2 

(') 
34.8 
20.2 


34.0 
44.5 
24.1 
6.0 

19.7 
19.2 


45. 6 
53.8 
28.6 
12.3 
(') 
44.8 
39.1 


30.0 
50.0 
24.0 
19.1 
(') 
36.9 
35.2 


30.6 
42.7 
26.4 
4.4 
(') 
24.7 
19.5 


45.6 

53.8 
28.6 
12.3 
(') 
44.8 
39.1 




25.1 


24.6 


37.4 


32.5 


24.7 


37.4 




etc.: 




Crop value, cost of production 


$10.29 
6.46 


$10.09 
5.99 


$15.33 
4.65 


$13.33 
11.40 




Cost 














Profit 


3.83 


4.10 


10.68 


1.93 











Destroyed by hail. 



EDGELEY FIELD STATION. 



The results of eight years of uninterrupted work are presented from 
Edgeley, N. Dak. In five of these years the yields were good, in one 
year they were light, and in two years the crops were practically 
failures from all methods under trial. No method showed any merit 
in overcoming the drought of these extreme years at this station. In 
five of the years under study the highest yield was obtained on disked 
corn ground. The maximum yield by this method was 37.1 bushels 
per acre, while the average for the eight years was 23.4 bushels per acre. 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



17 



The next highest average yield, 20 bushels per acre, was by summer 
tillage. The average from spring-plowed oat land was 19.7 bushels 
per acre. The advantage of either fall or spring plowing barley stub- 
ble varied within narrow limits, but in the average of the series of years 
no choice is to be made between the two. This indication that the 
time of plowing is not an important factor allows greater latitude 
in planning the work of the farm. The plan should be to get the 
work done early and thus avoid as far as possible the augmentation of 
work at seeding time. This is of especial importance in the northern 
portion of the Great Plains, where the seeding season is necessarily 
short. 

The only method under trial that did not produce barley at a profit 
is summer tillage. This shows an average loss of $3.20 per acre. The 
greatest profit, $4.94, was realized from disked corn ground. Fall 
and spring plowing both show small profits. 

Table IX. — Yield and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Edgeley 
Field Station, 1907 to 1914, inclusive. 



Treatment and previous crop. 


Number 
of plats 
averaged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 


1907 


1908 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 


9.4 


24.2 


24.7 


1.6 


0.1 


26.5 


20.2 

17.9 
18.9 


26.9 

32.3 
33.6 


16.7 




Spring plowed: 


1 

1 


10.2 
10.6 


25.0 


27.0 


1.2 
1.4 


...... 


24.2 
34.0 


17.2 
19.7 


Oats 


26. 32. 7 










2 


10.4 


25.5 


29.9 


1.3 


.1 


29.1 


18.4 


33.0 


18.5 






1 
1 


18.3 
16.0 


31.9 
24.2 


33.1 
28.3 


2.9 
2.2 


.4 

.8 


30.2 
32.3 


37.1 
26.8 


33.1 
29.4 


23.4 
20.0 










12.9 


26.3 


29.2 


1.9 


.3 


29.4 


24.2 


31.1 


19.4 







Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average per acre). 


Fall 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Spring 
plowed 
(2 plats). 


Disked 
(1 plat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(3 plats). 


Corn 
(1 plat). 


Yields of grain: 

1907 bushels. . 

i908 do.... 

1909 do.... 

1910 do.... 

1911 do... 

1912 do.... 

1913 do.... 

1914 do.... 


9.4 
24.2 
24.7 

1.6 

.1 
26.5 
£0.2 
26.9 


10.4 
25.5 
29.9 
1.3 
.1 
29.1 
18.4 
33.0 


18.3 
31.9 
33.1 
2.9 
.4 
30.2 
37.1 
33.1 


16.0 
24.2 
28.3 
2.2 
.8 
32.3 
26.8 
29.4 


10.1 
25.1 
28.1 
1.4 
.1 
28.2 
19.0 
30.9 


18.3 
31.9 
33.1 
2.9 
.4 
30.2 
37.1 
33.1 




16.7 


18.5 


23.4 


20.0 


17.9 


23.4 




Crop value, cost of production, etc.: 


$6.85 
6.46 


$7.59 
5.99 


$9.59 
4.65 


$8.20 
11.40 




Cost 












Profit or loss 


.39 


1.60 


4.94 


-3.20 











18 



BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



HETTINGER FIELD STATION. 

Results for three years have been obtained at Hettinger, N. Dak. 
All were years of good barley yields. The highest yields were 
obtained each year by summer tillage and the lowest, with one excep- 
tion, on disked corn ground. The average yield from summer tillage 
was more than twice that from the disked land. Following small 
grain, a decided advantage attended spring-plowed barley stubble. 
The crops in this group yielded better than on disked corn ground, 
but not as good as by summer tillage. 

Table X. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Hettinger 
Field Station, 191-2, 1913, and 1914- 







Yield per acre (bushels). 




Treatment and previous crop. 


Number 

of 

plats 

averaged. 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 


23.5 


27.1 


9.2 


19 9 






Spring plowed: 


1 
1 


26.3 
22.9 


39.6 
28.0 


16.3 
20.0 


27 4 


Oats 


23 6 








2 


24.6 


33.8 


18.2 


25 5 








1 
1 


13.5 
37.8 


21.0 
38.8 


10.2 
18.7 


14 9 




31 8 










24.8 


30.9 


14.9 


23.5 









Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average per acre). 


Fall- 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Spring- 
plowed 
(2 plats). 


Disked 
(1 plat). 


Summer- 
tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(3 plats). 


Corn 
(1 plat). 


Yields of grain: 

1912 bushels. . 

1913 do... 

1914 do... 


23.5 
27.1 
9.2 


24.6 
33.8 
18.2 


13.5 
21.0 
10.2 


37.8 

38.8 
18.7 


24.2 
31.6 
15.2 


13.5 
21.0 
10.2 




19.9 


25.5 


14.9 


31.8 


23.7 








Crop value, cost of production, etc.: 


$8.16 
6.46 


$10.46 
5.99 


$6.11 
4.65 


$13.04 
11.40 




Cost 












Profit 


1.70 


4.47 


1.46 


1.64 











The relative position assumed by the various methods may be due 
in part to the distribution of the rainfall for the two years, 1911 and 
1912, and may be changed with subsequent work. In both 1911 and 
1912 a heavy rainfall came in August and September. The corn, 
which was still growing, used this water, while a portion of it was 
accumulated in the small-grain plats, where the grain was already 
harvested, and in the summer-tilled plats- The corn plats were 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



19 



therefore short of available water when the barley was seeded and 
consequently gave lower yields. Weeds were also a factor in decreas- 
ing the yields on disked corn ground. 

A profit was realized from all methods under trial. Between fall 
plowing, disking, and summer tillage there was little difference. 
Spring plowing shows a considerably larger average profit than any 
of the other methods. 



BELLE FOURCHE FIELD STATION. 

The results of six years at Belle Fourche, S. Dak., are available for 
study. In only one year was the yield heavy. Three of those years 
gave light yields from most methods; in one year the crop was a 
total failure from all methods, and in the other year only one method 
gave any yield and that was light. 

Table XI. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Belle 
Fourche Field Station, 1909 to 1914, inclusive. 





Yield per acre (bushels). 


Treatment and previous crop. 


Number 

of plats 

averaged. 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 


29.0 


4.8 








8.9 


7.1 








Spring plowed: 


1 
1 


23.8 

28.1 


4.4 
3.6 






5.2 



17.0 
6.8 


5.2 
5.8 




Oats 










2 


26.0 


4.0 




2.6 


11.9 


5.5 










1 
1 
1 
1 


30.2 
33.8 
47.1 
37.3 






5.0 

3.0 















7.8 
7.8 
8.9 
13.4 


8.1 

6.3 

12.2 

21.7 
























32.2 


3.0 




.7 


10.1 


9.5 


9.3 







Summary of Yields and Digest or Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average 
per acre). 


Fall 
plowed 
(lplat). 


Spring 
plowed 
(2plats) 


Disked 
(lplat). 


Listed 
(lplat). 


Sub- 
soiled 
(lplat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(5plats) 


1 

Corn 

(lplat). 


Yields of grain: 

1909 bushels.. 

1910 do.... 

1911 do.... 

1912 do.... 

1913 do.... 

1914 do.... 


25.0 
4.8 



8.9 
7.1 


26.0 

4.0 



2.6 
11.9 

5.5 


47.1 

5.0 





8.9 
12.2 


30.2 




7.8 
8.1 


33.8 




7.8 
6.3 


37.3 
3.0 



13.4 
21.7 


28.2 
2.6 



1.0 
9.7 
6.5 


47.1 

5.0 





8.9 
12.2 




7.6 


8.3 


12.2 


7.7 


8.0 


12.6 


8.0 








Crop value, cost of production, etc.: 
value 


$3.12 
6.46 


$3.40 
5.99 


$5.00 
4.65 


$3.16 
5.45 


$3.28 
7.07 


$5.17 
11.40 

-6.23 




Cost 














-3.34 


-2.59 


.35 


- 2.29 


-3.79 









20 



BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In the year of heavy yields and in the following year of very light 
yields the best production was on disked corn ground. In 1912 the 
only yield secured was from spring-plowed barley stubble. The same 
plat also gave the highest yield in 1913. It is probable that in both 
cases these results were due to the fact that the crop on this plat 
made a poor start and had a thinner stand, which helped it in with- 
standing the drought of the summer. 

Subsoiling, as compared with fall-plowing done at the same time, 
appears to have been effective in increasing the crop in the year of 
good yield, but not in overcoming drought in other years. The same 
observation applies to furrowing with the lister instead of plowing. 

In the average results from the whole period of years, summer tillage 
and disking corn ground stand by themselves. On the basis of yield 
there is little or no choice to be made between the two. But when the 
cost of production is figured in connection with the value of the crop 
it is seen that by all methods except the use of disked corn ground the 
crop has been produced at a loss. The low cost of production by the 
disking method enables it to show a nominal average profit of 35 
cents per acre. 

SCOTTSBLUFF FIELD STATION. 

The results of only two years with barley are available for study 
from Scottsbluff, Nebr. The crop of 1913 was lost through a fault 
in the seed that made it necessary to reseed. The reseeded crop 
grew and maintained the continuity of the work in the effect upon 
the ground for the following crop, but was too late to mature before 
growth was checked by the hot weather of midsummer. Production 
in one year was good and in the other it was poor. 

Table XII. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Scotts- 
bluff Field Station, 1912 and 1914. 



Treatment and previous crop. 


Number 
of plats 
aver- 
aged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 1 


1912 


1914 


Average. 




1 


23.5 


4.4 


14.0 






Spring plowed: 


1 

1 


21.3 
22.5 


6.0 
11.8 


13.7 


Oats ... 


17.2 








2 


21.9 


8.9 


15.4 








1 
1 

1 
1 


31.3 
23.8 
24. S 
39.6 


5.8 
5.0 
5.2 
15.6 


18.6 




14.4 




15.0 




27.6 










26.7 


7.7 


17.2 









1 The crop of 1913 was a failure, due to poor seed. 



BARLEY IN THE GKEAT PLAINS AREA. 



21 



Table XII. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Scotts- 
bluff Field Station, 1912 and 1914— Continued. 



Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average 
per acre). 


Fall 

plowed 
(1 plat). 


Spring 
plowed 
(2 plats) 


Disked 
(lplat). 


Listed 
(lplat). 


Sub- 
soiled 
(1 plat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(lplat). 


Small 

grain 

(5 plats) 


Corn 
(lplat). 


Yields of grain: 

1913' do 


23.5 


21.9 


31.3 


23.8 


24.8 


39.6 


23.2 


31.3 


1914 do.... 


4.4 


8.9 


5.8 


5.0 


5.2 


15.6 


6.5 


5.8 




14.0 


15.4 


18.6 


14.4 


15.0 


27.6 


14.9 


18.6 






Crop value , cost of production, etc. : 


$5.74 
6.46 


$6.31 
5.99 


$7.63 
4.65 


$5.90 
5.45 


Sfi. 15 
7.07 


$11.32 
11.40 




Cost ... 














- .72 


.32 


2.98 


.45 


- .92 


- .08 











1 The crop of 1913 was a failure, due to poor seed. 

The highest yield in both years was from summer tillage. The 
average yield from this method is 9 bushels per acre greater than the 
average on disked corn ground, the next highest yielding method 
under trial. Between other methods there is little difference in 
yields, although in 1914 the spring-plowed oat ground appeared to 
have a decided advantage. Spring plowing, disking, and listing all 
show small profits, the greatest being from disking. Fall plowing, 
subsoiling, and summer tillage all show small losses. 

NORTH PLATTE FIELD STATION. 

In the eight years under study at North Platte, Nebr., there have 
been two heavy crops of barley, three light crops, two poor crops, and 
one failure from drought and grasshoppers. 

In the average of the whole series of years a small advantage 
appears in favor of fall plowing. There have been large differences 
in individual years of the series. The greatest difference in any one 
year has been in favor of fall plowing, but in the greater number of 
years there has been a smaller difference in favor of spring plowing. 
The greatest difference in favor of spring plowing over fall plowing 
was in 1909. Germination was much slower on the spring-plowed 
than on either fall-plowed or summer- tilled land, owing to the fact 
that the seed bed was not in as good shape. A late freeze caught 
the crop on the fall-plowed and summer-tilled land at a tender stage, 
while the crop on the spring-plowed plats, being slower, escaped 
almost entirely. The difference in yield between spring and fall 
plowing in that year was therefore due to a difference in stand. 



22 



BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The one plat on disked-com ground has been low in yield, its 
average being below that of barley following small grain. There is 
some evidence to support the belief that the location of the rotation 
containing this plat is such that it is normally a little lower in yield 
than the rest of the field. 

The only method under trial that exhibits power to markedly 
increase the yield over other methods is summer tillage. This power 
has not been manifested every year, but in some years it has been very 
marked. The average yield for eight years by this method has been 
26.7 bushels per acre as against 16.3 bushels where the crop followed 
small grain. This increase in yield has been just about equal to the 
increased cost of growing the crop under this method. All methods 
show either a profit or a loss of less than $1 per acre. 



Table XIII.- 



Yiclds and cost of production of barley by different methods at the North 
Platte Field Station, 1907 to 1914, inclusive. 



Treatment and previous crop. 


Number 
of plats 
averaged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 


1907 


1908 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 


40.0 


43.3 


10.4 


12.5 





14.6 


5.0 


11.0 


17.1 






Spring plowed: 


1 
1 


39.0 

40.2 


19.6 

22.3 


21.5 
18.6 


13.8 
16.0 






20.8 
20.0 


6.5 
6.3 


5.3 

3.6 


15.8 


Oats 


15.9 








2 


39.6 


21.0 


20.1 


14.9 




20.4 


6.4 


4.5 


15.9 








1 

1 


30.6 
39.0 


24.9 
67.7 


21.5 
23.8 


7.9 
26.0 







12.3 
20.0 


5.0 
16.5 


5.2 
20.8 


13.4 




26.7 










37.8 


35.6 


19.2 


15.2 




17.5 


7.9 


9.2 


17.8 









Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tfllag» treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average per acre). 


Fall- 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Spring- 
plowed 
(2 plats). 


Disked 
(1 plat). 


Summer- 
tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(3 plats). 


Corn 

(1 plat). 


Yields of grain: 

1907 bushels. . 

1908 do. . . . 

1909 do.... 

1910 do.... 

1911 do.... 

1912 do.... 

1913 do.... 

1914 do 


40.0 
43.3 
10.4 
12.5 


14.6 

5.0 
11.0 


39.6 
21.0 
20.1 
14.9 

20.4 
6.4 
4.5 


30.6 
24.9 
21.5 

7.9 


12.3 

5.0 

5.2 


39.0 
67.7 
23.8 
26.0 

20.0 
16.5 
20.8 


39.7 
28.4 
16.8 
14.1 


18.5 
5.9 
6.6 


30.6 
24.9 
21.5 

7.9 


12.3 

5.0 

5.2 




17.1 


15.9 


13.4 


215.7 


16.3 


13.4 






Crop value, cost of production, etc.: 


$7.01 
6.46 


$6.52 
5.99 


$5.49 
4.65 


S10.95 
11.40 




Cost.. 














.55 


.53 


.S4 


— .55 











BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



23 



AKRON FIELD STATION. 

The results at Akron, Colo., secured by fall plowing barley stubble, 
furrowing with a lister instead of plowing, spring plowing barley stub- 
ble, spring plowing oat stubble, and disking corn ground in prepara- 
tion for barley, have been dependent upon the season. Some seasons 
have favored one method and other seasons other methods, but on 
the whole little choice is to be made from the average of the six years 
under study. Subsoiling as compared with fall plowing without sub- 
soiling has been done at a distinct loss each year except the first. 

Summer tillage has increased the average yield from 17.6 bushels 
following a small-grain crop to 24.8 bushels per acre. Subsoiling and 
summer tillage show small losses of $1.33 and $1.23 per acre. Other 
methods show profits ranging from $1.17 on fall-plowed land to $2.89 
on disked corn ground. 



Table XIV.- 



Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Akron 
Field Station, 1909 to 1914, inclusive. 





Number 

of plats 

.'averaged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 


Treatment and previous crop. 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 


16.8 


10.5 


16.3 


27.9 


3.1 


36.7 


18 6 






Spring plowed: 


1 
1 


19.7 
22.2 


13.1 
10.2 


8.7 
2.5 


28.8 
35.2 


4.6 
7.9 


32.1 
40.2 


17 8 


Oats 


19 7 








2 


21.0 


11.7 


5.6 


32.0 


6.3 


36.2 










1 
1 
3 
1 


19.2 
19.8 
18.7 
24.6 


12.6 
6.9 
12.9 
16.0 


4.6 

5.2 

1.7 

12.6 


36.0 
22.5 
2S.9 
40.2 


4.4 

1.5 

6.4 

16.3 


30.8 
27.9 
42.0 
46.2 


17 9 






















19.8 


12.0 


6.1 


30.8 


6.3 


37.8 











Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average per acre). 


Fall 
plowed 

(1 
plat). 


Spring 
plowed 

(2 
plats). 


Disked 

(3 
plats). 


Listed 

(1 
plat). 


Sub- 
soiled 

(1 
plat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 
grain 

(5 
plats). 


Corn 

(3 
plats). 


Yields of grain: 

1909 bushels. . 

1910 do.... 

1911 do.... 

1912 do.... 

1913 do.... 

1914 do.... 


16.8 
10.5 
16.3 
27.9 
3.1 
36.7 


21.0 
11.7 

5.6 
32.0 

6.3 
36.2 


18.7 
12.9 

1.7 
28.9 

6.4 
42.0 


19.2 

12.6 
4.6 

36.0 
4.4 

30.8 


19.8 
6.9 
5.2 

22.5 
1.5 

27.9 


24.6 
16.0 
12.6 
40.2 
16.3 
46.2 


19.5 
10.7 

7.5 
30.1 

4.3 
33.5 


18.7 
12.9 

1.7 
28.9 

6.4 
42.0 




18.6 


18.8 


18.4 


17.9 


14.0 


24.8 


17.6 








Crop value, cost of production, etc.: 


$7. 63 
6.46 


$7.71 
5.99 


87.54 
4.65 


$7.34 
5.45 


85.74 
7.07 


810. 17 
11.40 




Cost 












TroGt or loss 


1.17 


1.72 


2.89 


1.89 


-1.33 


-1.23 











24 



BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



HAYS FIELD STATION. 

In the results for seven years presented for study from Hays, 
Kans., one crop has been lost by hail. With the exception of 3.4 
bushels per acre produced by summer tillage, one crop has been lost 
by drought. In two years the average yield was heavy, in two 
it was light, and in one it was fair. In the matter of productive 
and nonproductive years, the record for barley at this station is 
the same as that of oats. The year when the crop was destroyed 
by hail is not included in computing the averages. 

Table XV. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Hays 
Field Station, 1908 to 1914, inclusive. 



Treatment and previous crop. 


Number 
of plats 
averaged. 




Yield per 


acre (bushels). 




1908 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 


12.4 


(') 


19.7 





28.8 


4.0 


16.7 


13.6 






Spring plowed: 


1 
1 


5.8 
9.2 




12.5 

15.0 






22.4 
29.8 


2.6 
17.0 


9.9 
9.4 


8.9 




13.4 








2 


7.5 




13.8 




26.1 


9.8 


9.7 


11.2 








1 

1 
6 


10.1 

14.8 
11.0 


(') 
(') 


19.7 
19.3 
28.3 







31.8 
33.8 
25.1 


2.1 

4.6 
3.5 


12.6 
15.2 
16.4 


12.7 




14.6 




14.1 






Green manured: 


1 
1 


21.5 
5.0 


8 


32.3 
34. 1 






16.9 
17.7 


12.9 
li.O 


15.3 
16.2 


16.5 




14.5 








2 


13.3 




33.2 




17.3 


13.5 


15.8 


15.5 








1 


18.9 


c) 


18.4 


3.4 


36.2 


20.9 


18.0 


19.3 










11.7 




24.3 


.2 


26.3 


7.1 


15.1 


14.1 









Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. 
(average per acre). 


Fall 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Spring 

plowed 

(2 plats). 


Disked 
(6 plats). 


Listed 
(1 plat). 


Sub- 
soiled 
(1 plat). 


Green 
manured 
(2 plats). 


Summer 

tilled 
(lplat). 


Small 

grain 

(5 

plate). 


Corn. 

(4 
plats). 


Kafir. 

(2 
plats). 


Yields of grain: 

1908 bush.. 

1909 do.... 

1910 do.... 

1911 do.... 

1912 do 

1913 do.... 

1914 do.... 


12.4 

(') 
19.7 


28.8 

4.0 
16.7 


7.5 

C) 

13.8 


26.1 
9.8 
9.7 


11.0 

(') 
28.3 


25.1 

3.5 
16.4 


10.1 

0) 
19.7 


31.8 

2.1 
12.6 


14.8 

(') 
19.3 


33.8 

4.6 
15.2 


13.3 

(') 
33.2 
• 
17.3 
13.5 
15.8 


18.9 

(') 
18.4 
3.4 
36.2 
20.9 
18.0 


10.5 

(') 
17.2 


29.3 

6.1 
12.8 


11.3 

(') 

26.6 


26.1 

3.1 
15.6 


10.4 

£e 


23.0 

4.4 
18.2 


Average 


13.6 


11.2 


14.1 


12.7 


14.6 


15.5 


19.3 


12.7 


13.8 


14.6 


Crop value, cost of 
production, etc.: 


$5.58 
6.46 


$4.59 
5.99 


$5.78 
4.65 


$5.21 
5.45 


$5.99 
7.07 


S6.36 
14.51 


87.91 
11.40 




Cost 
















Profit or loss. 


- .88 


-1.40 


1.13 


- .24 


-1.08 


-8.15 


-3.49 











' Destroyed by hail. 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 25 

The results range from an average yield of 8.9 bushels per acre 
on spring-plowed barley land to 19.3 bushels per acre on summer- 
tilled land. Green manure is in second place, with average yields 
of 15.5 bushels per acre. In all but the first year, peas plowed 
under produced slightly larger crops than winter rye simdarly 
treated. There has been a gam of 1 bushel per acre from sub- 
solling over fall plowing not subsoiled. Furrowing over whiter 
with a lister produced practically the same as fall plowing. Fall- 
plowed barley stubble gave better results than spring-plowed bar- 
ley stubble. Spring-plowed oat stubble produced practically the 
same as fall-plowed barley stubble. Disked corn ground produced 
slightly better yields than the average of the crops following small 
grains on fall or spring plowing. 

The main positive result shown in the table of yields is an increase 
of about 6 bushels an acre as the result of summer tillage, or a some- 
what lesser increase as a result of modifying the summer tillage by 
plowing under a crop of green manure. 

The only method that produced barley at a profit was that of 
disking corn ground. This shows a profit of $1.13 per acre. All 
other methods show losses which range, from 24 cents on listed 
ground to $3.49 on summer-tilled land and $8.15 on green-manured 
land. 

GARDEN CITY FIELD STATION. 

During the work of six years with barley under study at Garden City, 
Kans., one crop has been lost by drought and one by had. In the 
other four years, yields have been obtained. 

The highest average yield, 11 bushels per acre, has been obtained 
from summer tillage. Next to this in point of average yield is disked 
corn ground. SubsoUing has given the same average yields as fall 
plowing done at the same time without subsoding. Marked advan- 
tage in two years appears to have been derived from furrowing with 
a lister and leaving the land rough through the winter instead of 
plowing. 

On the whole the average yields are so low and there are so many 
inconsistencies in the behavior of the different methods from year to 
year that the results are chiefly valuable as indicators rather than as 
definite guides to practice. It appears that there is sound reason for 
the consensus of opinion as evidenced by farm practice which gives 
little place to spring-sown barley in the territory served by this 
station. 

The crop has been produced at a loss by all the methods under 
trial. The losses range from $1 per acre on disked com ground to 
$6.89 on summer-tilled land. 



26 



BULLETIN 222, XJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Table XVI. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Garden 
City Field Station, 1909 to 1914, inclusive. 





Number 

of plats 

averaged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 




Treatment and previous crop. 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 


Fall plowed: Barley 


1 


4.8 


5.4 





9.0 


(') 


15.2 


6.9 


Spring plowed: 


1 
1 


2.4 
5.7 


1.0 
2.3 






6.9 
17.0 


8 


3.9 
3.5 


2.8 




5.7 








2 


4.1 


1.7 




12.0 




3.7 


4.3 








1 

1 
3 
1 


3.2 

3.7 
4.8 
10.0 


5.0 

5.2 

5.4 

13.5 









14.5 
8.5 
15.8 
13.1 


c) 
o 


18.8 
17.3 
18.5 
18.5 


8.3 




6.9 




8.9 




11.0 










4.6 


5.4 




12.9 




15.7 


7.7 









Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





(average 


Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc 
per acre). 


FaU 
plowed 
(lplat). 


Spring 
plowed 
(2 plats). 


Disked 
(3 plats). 


Listed 

(1 plat). 


Sub- 
soiled 

(1 plat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(5 plats). 


Corn 
(3 plats). 


Yields of grain: 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913' 

1914 


bushels. . 
do.... 
do.... 
do.... 
do.... 
do.... 


4.8 
5.4 


9.0 
(') 
15.2 


4.1 
1.7 

12.0 

(') 
3.7 


4.8 
5.4 


15.8 

(') 

18.5 


3.2 
5.0 


14.5 

(') 

18.8 


3.7 

5.2 



8.5 
(') 
17.3 


10.0 
13.5 

13.1 

(') 
18.5 


4.0 
3.8 

11.2 

0) 

11.7 


4.8 
5.4 


15.8 
(') 

18.5 




6.9 


4.3 


8.9 


8.3 


6.9 


11.0 


6.1 


8.9 




f produc- 




Crop value, cost o 
tion, etc.: 


S2.83 
6.46 


$1.78 
5.99 


$3.65 
4.65 


$3.40 
5.45 


$2.83 
7.07 


$4.51 
11.40 




Cost of product 


on 












-3.63 


-4.23 


-1.00 


-2.05 


-4.24 


-6.89 











i Destroyed by hail. 
DALHART FIELD STATION. 

Persistent attempts have been made for six years to grow barley 
at the station at Dalhart, Tex. The crop has been lost in the different 
years by hail, drought, and soil blowing. 

In only two years have any yields been obtained. If this record 
is indicative of average conditions, as it is believed to be, it would 
show that spring-sown barley has no place in the farm practice of 
this section. 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



27 



Table XVII. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the Dalhart. 
Field Station, 1909 to 1914, inclusive. 





Number 

of plats 

averaged. 


Yield per acre (bushels). 




Treatment and previous crop. 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 





(') 





(') . 





15.6 


3.9 






Spring plowed: 


1 
1 






8 






(') 
(') 






7.7 


1.9 














2 












7.7 


1.9 


















1 

3 
1 





7.5 


8 








(') 

8 








17.6 

6.4 
18.1 


4.4 




1.6 




0.4 










1.3 










13.1 


3.6 

















Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average 
per acre). 


Fall 
plowed 
(1 plat). 


Spring 
plowed 
(2 plats). 


Disked 
(3 plats). 


Listed 
(1 plat). 


Summer 

tilled 
(1 plat). 


Small 

grain 

(4 plats). 


Corn 
(3 plats). 


Yields of grain: 

1909 bushels. . 

1910 do.... 

1911 do.... 

1912 do.... 

1913 do.... 

1914 do.... 



(') 


(') 


15.6 




(') 



0) 



7.7 




(') 


(I) o 

6.4 



(') 


(') 


17.6 


7.5 

(,) o 
% 

18.1 




(') 


0) 


13.6 



(') 


(') 



6.4 




3.9 


1.9 


1.6 


4.4 


6.4 


3.4 


1.6 


Crop value, cost of production, 
etc.: 




$1.60 
6.46 


$0.78 
5.99 


10.66 
4.65 


$1.80 
5.45 


$2.62 
11.40 




Cost 














-4.86 


-5.21 


-3.99 


-3.65 


-8.78 











1 Destroyed by bail. 



AMARILLO FIELD STATION. 



The results with barley at Amarillo, Tex., have been tabulated for 
six years; 1910 is not included, owing to the necessity of changing the 
location of the farm. The crop of that year was the first from 
prairie sod and was raised on land uniform in its preparation for all 
plats. Wlide there was some growth of straw, a crop of grain did 
not mature. Three of the six years under study were productive of 
much better average yields than the other three. During two years 
the crop was practically a fadure by all methods. In the remaining 
year one method, summer tillage, gave a yield of 17.5 bushels per 
acre, while most of the other methods were fadures. On the average, 
there appears to have been no increase in yields from subsoding, from 
listing instead of plowing, or from raising the barley on disked corn 
ground. 



28 



BULLETIN 222, XJ. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGBICULTTJRL. 



The only method that has consistently shown increases sufficient to 
attract attention is summer tillage. Under this method barley has 
given an average yield for six years of 12.6 bushels per acre, with a 
maximum yield in any one year of 19.6 bushels per acre. On the 
whole, barley does not seem to offer more promise for this section 
than any other of the spring-sown small grains. 

A loss by all methods under trial has attended the growth of the 
crop. These losses range from $1.94 on disked corn ground to $6.23 
on summer-tilled land. 

Table XVIII. — Yields and cost of production of barley by different methods at the 
Amarillo 1 Field Station for 1908, 1909, and 1911 to 1914, inclusive. 





Number 
of plats 
averaged. 




Yield per 


acre (bushels). 






Treatment and previous crop. 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Average. 




1 


13.2 


5.8 


11.7 


1.7 





16.7 


8.2 






Spring plowed: 


1 
1 


7.9 
8.1 






12.2 
12.3 


2.7 
1.1 






21.0 

2.7 


7.3 


Oats 


4.0 








2 


8.0 





12.3 


1.9 





11.9 


5.7 








1 

1 
1 

1 


10.8 
11.9 
7.5 
15.2 






17.5 


11.4 
10.3 
11.8 
15.0 


1.5 
1.5 
1.7 
4.2 






4.2 


13.1 
17.1 
IV s 
19.6 


6.1 




6.8 




6.6 




12.6 










10.7 


3.3 


12.1 


2.1 


.6 


15.6 


7.4 









Summary of Yields and Digest of Cost. 





Tillage treatment. 


Previous crop. 


Yields, values, etc. (average per 
acre). 


Fall- 
plowed 

(1 
plat). 


Spring- 
plowed 

(2 
plats). 


Disked 

(1 
plat). 


Listed 

(1 
plat). 


Sub- 
soiled 

(1 
plat). 


Sum- 
mer- 
tilled 

(1 
plat). 


Small 
grain 

(5 
plats). 


Corn 
plat). 


Yields of grain: 

1908 bushels. . 

1909 do.... 

1911 do.... 

1912 do.... 

1913 do.... 

1914 do.... 


13.2 
5.8 

11.7 
1.7 


16.7 


8.0 


12.3 

1.9 


11.9 


7.5 


11.8 

1.7 


18.8 


10.8 

11.4 

1.5 

13.1 


11.9 


10.3 

1.5 


17.1 


15.2 

17.5 
15.0 
4.2 
4.2 
19.6 


10.4 
1.2 
11.6 

1.7 

14.1 


7.5 


11.8 

1.7 


18.8 




S.2 


5.7 


6.6 


6.1 


6.8 


12.0 


6.5 


6.6 






Crop value, cost of production, etc.. 


S3. 36 
6.46 


$2.34 
5.99 


$2.71 
4.65 


S2.50 
5.45 


$2.79 
7.07 


$5.17 
11.40 


















-3.10 


-3.65 


-1.94 


-2.95 


-4.28 


-6.23 











i The location of the station was changed in 1910, and the records for that year were not used. 

GENERAL DISCUSSION OF RESULTS. 

In the preceding pages the data have been presented and discussed 
for each station separately. In the following pages some of the more 
important phases are discussed from a more general standpoint. 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



29 



To facilitate this study, Tabic XIX has been prepared, bringing 
together for each station the average yields as grouped for this study 
under different methods of preparation, and also assembling the 
data from the tables of yields and cost of production in such a way as 
to show the profit or loss in dollars and cents per acre for the average 
crop by each method for which it has been computed at each station. 

Table XIX shows that the yields at Belle Fourche, Garden City, 
Dalhart, and Amarillo have been markedly lower than at the 10 
other stations. While some methods have increased the yields at 
these stations, they have not brought them up to a point that offers 
much encouragement for the growth of barley. The only profit 
shown from any method under study at these stations is one of 35 
cents per acre from disked corn ground at Belle Fourche. This 
nominal profit has resulted from the low cost of production rather 
than from the amount of yield. The indications are that the combi- 
nation of soil and chmatic conditions at these stations is not favorable 
to the growth of barley, nor can the unfavorable conditions be over- 
come by cultural practices. 

Table XIX. — Comparison of the average yields and profit or loss in the production of 
barley by different methods of tillage at fourteen stations in the Great Plains area. 





Number 
of years 
averaged. 


Methods of tillage. 


Statement of data. 


Fall 
plowed. 


Spring 
plowed. 


Listed. 


Sub- 
soiled. 


Disked. 


Green 
manured. 


Summer 
tilled. 


Yields per acre (bushels): 


5 
2 
5 
6 
8 
3 
6 
2 
8 
6 
6 
5 
4 
6 

5 
3 

5 
6 
8 
3 
6 
2 
8 
6 
6 
5 
4 
6 


24.0 


24.0 

29.6 
16.1 
24.6 
18.5 
25.5 
8.3 
15.4 
15.9 
18.8 
11.2 
4.3 
1.9 
5.7 

$3.85 

6.15 

.61 

4.10 

1.60 

4.47 

-2.59 

.32 

.53 

1.72 

-1.40 

-4.23 

-5.21 

-3.65 


29.0 


30.5 


29.0 
34.5 
27.5 
37.4 
23.4 
14.9 
12.2 
18.6 
13.4 
18.4 
14.1 
8.9 
1.6 
6.6 

$7.24 

9.50 

6.63 

10.68 

4.94 

1.46 

.35 

2.98 

.84 

2.89 

1.13 

-1.00 

-3.99 

-1.94 






Huntley 


43.8 




Willis ton 


17.4 
25.1 
16.7 
19.9 
7.6 
14.0 
17.1 
18.6 
13.6 
6.9 
3.9 
8.2 

$3.38 






































Belle Fourche 


7.7 
14.4 


8.0 
15.0 




12.6 


Scottsbluff 






North Platte 








17.9 
12.7 
8.3 
4.4 
6.1 

$6.44 


14.0 
14.6 
6.9 








15.5 




Garden City 




Dalhart 








6.8 
$5.44 






Profit or loss ( — ) per acre: 






Huntley 


$3.45 




Williston 


.67 
3.83 

.39 

1.70 

-3.34 

- .72 
.55 

1.17 

- .88 
-3.63 
-4.86 
-3.10 


















Kdgeley 








3 20 


Hettinger 








1 64 


Belle Fourche 


-2.29 
.45 


-3.79 
- .92 




6.23 


Scottsbluff 




.08 


North Platte 








1.89 
- .24 
-2.05 
-3.65 
-2.95 


-1.33 

-1.08 
-4.24 




1 23 




-8.15 




Garden City 


6.89 


Dalhart 




8.78 


Amarillo 


-4.28 




6.23 









Table XIX also shows that at 10 of the 14 stations under study 
disked corn ground has been productive of higher yields of barley 
than either the fall or spring plowing of stubble. At Hettinger and 
North Platte it has been clearly exceeded by both. At Akron it 



30 BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

has been exceeded by both, but the differences among the three 
are only fractions of a bushel. At Amarillo disked corn land 
has been between fall-plowed and spring-plowed stubble in yield 
Its low cost of production has made it the most profitable method 
under trial at all stations except Hettinger. It has been productive 
of a profit at all stations except Garden City, Dalhart, and Amarillo. 
This study, dealing with but one crop, does not consider the relative 
profitableness of other crops in the farming system. 

It should be borne in mind that at all stations disking corn ground 
as a preparation for all small grain crops has been done upon corn 
land kept free from weeds. If weeds were allowed to develop in the 
corn, similar results should not be expected. To the extent that 
the weeds developed or were unhindered in their growth, just so far 
would the corn ground approach a grain stubble in the condition of 
the seed bed. If the weeds matured seed, further damage by their 
growth might be done to the succeeding crop. 

Preparing the ground with a lister instead of a plow has been 
practiced at eight stations. At only one station, Judith Basin, were 
the yields very materially different from those on fall-plowed land. 
But, as has been pointed out, the yields on fall-plowed land at that 
station were lowered somewhat by damage done by gophers. At 
the other stations, though it did not in all cases give higher yields 
than plowing, it showed, owing to a lower cost of preparation, slightly 
more profit where profits are shown and less loss where losses are 
shown than plowing. 

The difference between spring and fall plowing is largely one of 
season. In the average of the 13 stations at which both were under 
trial there is practically no difference. At only three stations is 
there a difference of over 2 bushels per acre. At the four more 
southern stations the advantage has been with fall plowing. This 
is the only consistent territorial difference to be noted in the com- 
parison of these two methods, but production at these four stations 
and at Belle Fourche has resulted in a loss by both methods. Spring 
plowing shows a profit at all other stations, and fall plowing shows 
a profit at all others except Scottsbluff. 

Subsoiling in preparation for the barley crop has been practiced at 
seven stations. At only two of these has the consequent yield de- 
parted far from that on fall-plowed land. At the Judith Basin 
station there has been a marked gain and at Akron a marked de- 
crease. In the average of the seven stations the yield from this 
method has been oidy 0.4 of a bushel more than from fall plowing. 
The cost of the method has been such that it has paid a profit at only 
the Judith Basin station. 

The highest average yields at eleven of the fourteen stations have 
been by summer tillage. At tho Judith Basin station subsoiled land 



BARLEY IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 31 

has yielded a fraction of a bushel higher. At Dickinson and Edgeley 
the yields on disked corn ground have been appreciably higher than 
on summer tilled-land. While the averages of all the stations are 
not strictly comparable, summer tillage has increased the yield over 
the fall plowing and the spring plowing of cropped land nearly one- 
half. The average increase over disked corn ground has not been 
nearly so great. 

These increases in yields have not been in proportion to the in- 
creased cost of the method. In no case has summer tillage been the 
most profitable method under trial. As values and costs are here 
figured, this method shows a profit at only four stations, Judith 
Basin, Williston, Dickinson, and Hettinger. At Scottsbluff, North 
Platte, and Hays the losses have been small. At the other seven 
stations they have been sufficiently great to discourage hope of 
changing them to profits by the extension of the record or by an 
adjustment of value or cost. 

Green manuring for barley has been tried at only two stations, 
Huntley and Hays. At Huntley, where it was in comparison with 
only spring-plowed land and disked corn ground, it gave the highest 
average yield. This average is the highest resulting from any 
method at any station. The record, however, is for only two years. 
At Hays its yield has been greater than that on land from which a 
crop was harvested, but not as high as that on summer-tilled ground. 

On the whole, differences in climatic conditions of different seasons 
have produced much wider variations in yields than have resulted 
from differences in cultivation. Some seasons have a combination 
of climatic factors so adverse as to produce failures by all methods 
of tillage at some stations. Other seasons have conditions so favor- 
able that any and all methods of tillage produce good crops. Still 
other seasons prohibit production by some methods, but allow it 
with others. The greater the number of years averaged the more 
nearly will the final figure represent average seasonal conditions. 
This longer average will also tend to reduce the wide differences 
that may result between methods during some seasons especially 
favorable to some particular method. No method so far tried, 
however, has been able to overcome the extremely unfavorable con- 
ditions which sometimes exist. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

(1) Differences in the climatic conditions of different seasons have 
caused much wider variations in yields than have residted from dif- 
ferences in cultivation. 

(2) Yields at Belle Fourche, Garden City, Dalhart, and Amarillo 
have been markedly lower than those obtained at the other field 



32 BULLETIN 222, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 

stations. The only profit shown at any of these stations is 35 cents 
an acre on disked corn ground at Belle Fourche. 

(3) The highest average yields at eleven of the fourteen stations 
have been by summer tillage. On the average, it increased the 
yields nearly one-half over those produced on land cropped in the 
preceding year. On account of its cost it has not been the most 
profitable method of production. 

(4) At ten of the fourteen stations under study disked corn 
ground produced higher yields than from either the fall plowing or 
the spring plowing of barley stubble. It has been the most profitable 
method under trial at all the stations except Hettinger. 

(5) The relative advantage of either fall or spring plowing is 
largely dependent upon the season. In the general average of the 
thirteen stations at which each method has been tried there is prac- 
tically no difference. At only three stations has there been an 
average difference of over 2 bushels per acre between the two meth- 
ods. At the four more southern stations fall plowing has been bet- 
ter than spring plowing. 

(6) At the seven stations where subsoiling for barley has been 
tried it has produced an average of only 0.4 of a bushel more than 
fall plowing. At only two stations has there been a marked difference 
in the results of the two methods. At one of these, subsoding has 
been responsible for an increase and at the other for a decrease in 
yield. 

(7) At eight stations listing instead of plowing has been tried. 
While the resulting yields have not been materially different from 
those on fall-plowed land, the lower cost of listing has made it the 
more profitable method. 



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